As a senior majoring in public health, Reyna Amit has come to appreciate how closely community health is connected to public policy. Since January, she has been putting that understanding to work as an intern with Philadelphia City Council, where she works with the staff of councilwoman Nina Ahmad.

“For the past four years I've been studying issues from a public health perspective. We’ve talked about maternal mortality, race and diversity, social determinants, housing, access to care. Now I’m seeing how it all works in Philadelphia,” Amit says.

Ahmad, elected to an at-large Council seat in November 2023, brings a science and medicine background to the position. She received her PhD in chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania and had a molecular genetics postdoctoral fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University. “For me, tackling our most pressing issues from a public health lens is crucial to achieving a healthier Philadelphia for a stronger future,” Ahmad explains.

Amit, a Philly-area native and captain of Temple’s women’s club soccer team, has been learning how politics can shape public health, and she also has been contributing to the office's work. She has prepared briefing papers for Ahmad’s staff on topics including the opioid crisis in Philadelphia, maternal mortality, and human trafficking. “One thing people may not realize is that in City Council, a main goal of what they do is try to improve public health,” she points out.

Amit says she didn’t know a lot about politics going into the internship. Now she’s aiming to attend law school—although after her graduation in May she hopes to continue her work in the councilwoman’s office.

“As a member of our team, Reyna has been an integral part of the work we are doing to address the needs of the citizens of Philadelphia,” Ahmad says. “From conducting research for us to compiling critical policy information and helping draft legislation on related matters, I couldn’t have chosen a better intern, and hopefully future permanent team member, than Reyna. As one of our future leaders, we’re very lucky to have her.”